Judge extends protective order after agreement by Ampreys School superintendent must stay away from wife

September 04, 1996|By Kate Shatzkin | Kate Shatzkin,SUN STAFF

A Baltimore District judge yesterday extended a protective order to keep Baltimore City School Superintendent Walter G. Amprey away from his wife, whom he is accused of battering, for the next four months.

Lawyers for Walter Amprey and Freda Jones Amprey told Judge Gale Rasin Caplan the couple had agreed to extend the terms of an order Freda Amprey obtained last week, after she claimed the schools chief threw her to the ground Aug. 24 during an argument over money.

Neither Amprey appeared at yesterday's hearing, which lasted only about five minutes. Their lawyers left the courthouse quickly, with little comment.

"Dr. Amprey did not admit any wrongdoing," said his lawyer, Phyllis J. Erlich. "We plan to settle this matter in a civil manner."

Freda Amprey, who is the city school system's director of the Employee Assistance and Wellness Program, charged in a criminal summons Friday that the superintendent struck her during an argument in their home in the 400 block of N. zTC Chapelgate Lane. She wrote that her husband appeared to have been drinking.

Police were called to the residence, but an officer did not see any signs of injury to Freda Amprey, according to city police spokesman Sam Ringgold. The officer said in a police report that he could not detect any signs of alcohol affecting Walter Amprey, who appeared calm. On Aug. 26, Freda Amprey spoke with representatives of the domestic-violence unit at the Southwestern District police station, and had photographs taken of bruises she said she received during the altercation.

Attorney Paul Mark Sandler, who is representing the superintendent on the common-law battery charge, has said his client denies that he battered his wife but decided some time ago to leave their marriage.

The protective order approved yesterday gives use of the couple's home to Freda Amprey for the next four months, and requires the superintendent not to contact his wife in any way during that time. He has agreed not to visit her office on the campus of Edmondson-Westside High School, Erlich said.

In an accompanying agreement, the couple stipulated that Walter Amprey will pay the mortgage on their home through the end of the year, by which time Freda Amprey is either to vacate the home or begin paying the mortgage.

A trial on the criminal charge against Walter Amprey is scheduled for Oct. 11.